Genetic diversity of the JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) and mitochondrial DNA ancestry in Misiones, Argentina

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution genetics and evolution, 2019-11, Vol.75, p.104011-104011, Article 104011
• Main Authors: Sanabria, Daiana J., Mojsiejczuk, Laura N., Torres, Carolina, Meyer, Alejandro G., Mbayed, Viviana A., Liotta, Domingo J., Campos, Rodolfo H., Schurr, Theodore G., Badano, Ines
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ancestry; Argentina; Biological Evolution; Brazil; DNA, Mitochondrial; Female; genes; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Haplotype; Haplotypes; Humans; immigration; infection; JC Virus - classification; JC Virus - genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Migration; mitochondrial DNA; nationalities and ethnic groups; Phylogeny; Polyomaviridae; Polyomavirus Infections - genetics; Polyomavirus Infections - virology; South America; urine; villages; Viral evolution
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.104011

The use of human and viral genetic markers offers a novel way to study human migration in multiethnic populations of Latin America. Our goal was to characterize the genetic diversity and geographical origins of JC Polyomavirus (JCPyV) and the genetic ancestry of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in inhabitants from 25 de Mayo, Misiones-Argentina, a small village of largely German ancestry located close to the border with Brazil. We also evaluated the extent of agreement between viral and mtDNA markers for the different ancestry components of this population. 68 individuals were analyzed for JCPyV and mtDNA diversity. JCPyV detection and typing was conducted in urine samples by PCR amplification, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene. mtDNA ancestry was assessed through HVS1 sequencing, with the resulting haplotypes being classified into haplogroups of Amerindian, European and African origin. The distribution of JCPyV diversity and mtDNA ancestry in the population was statistically evaluated by Fisher exact test and the level of agreement of both markers at the individual level was evaluated by Cohen's kappa coefficient. Our analysis showed that 57.4% of the samples were positive for JCPyV. Of these, the 47.6% were Asian-American Type 2, 33.3% European Type 1 and 19.1% African Type 3 in origin. The mtDNA ancestry of the study participants was 33.3% Amerindian and 66.7% European. There was a significant difference among the distribution of JCPyV diversity and mtDNA ancestry (p = 0.009) and at the individual level there was no correlation between the distribution of the both markers (κ = 0.154, p = 0.297). The apparent incongruence between JCPyV diversity and mtDNA ancestry may reflect the original settlement process and more recent migration to 25 de Mayo, the latter involving viral spread through migrants from Brazil. Some potential limitations to our interpretations are also discussed. •We studied JCPyV and mtDNA genetic/geographic ancestry in a population from Argentina.•The population had 47.6% Asian-American, 33.3% European and 19.1% African JCPyV types.•The population exhibited 33.3% Amerindian and 66.7% European mtDNA haplogroups.•Only slight agreement was found between JCPyV diversity and mtDNA ancestry (κ = 0.154, p = 0.297).•The viral transmission mode and human demographics may explain these discrepancies.